littell



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J'. L'. MOSS & N; LITTELL. MAOHINE FOR FORMING OIL-CAKES! Patented Apr. 29, 188,4.v

N, PFIERS. Plwlwlltllagnphlr. Washinglan, D, C.

2 .SheetsSheet'2.-

(No Model.)

J. ,L. Mos-s & N. LITTELL'. MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL (3mm,

No. 297,619. Patented A r. 29, 1884.

r/ a a .V D 6 1 J NW ,6 F on I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. oss AND Nonnrs LITTELIJ, on ROME, GEORGIA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL-CAKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,619, dated April 29, 1884,

Application filed January 14, 1864. No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN L. Moss and NoRRIs LITTELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Rome, in thecounty of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Machine forForming Oil-Cakes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates-to novel means for forming oil-cakes; and it has for its main object to form the cakes in a more expeditious manner and in larger numbers than heretofore made in the usual way.

Our improvement consists in a former or press-having two mat-boxes with movable platens actuated by levers for forming the cakes, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Our improvement further consists in the combination, with a mat-box and a movable bottom, of actuating means and an automatic vspring-catch for holding the movable bottom in adjusted position.

Our improvement further consists in combination, with means for subjecting mats containing cotton-seed meal, of a support or rest for holding the leaves of the mat in incline position while the mat is charged.

Our improvement further consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of the mat-press. Fig. 2 is an end view to show the mat-support, cover-locking device, platen-spring catch, and the arrangement of thelevers. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the press, and Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the same.

A represents a portable former or press frame of suitable and substantial construction, provided with two mat-boxes, Band C, vertically arranged. Each mat-box is provided with a vertical movable platen, D, forming the bottom for the box. The platens are substantially made and formed with corner guide-pieces, one of which is provided with stops or projections b, "to engage with the spring-catch E, pivotally attached in the vertical slots 0 of the framework, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I

To the under side, after the middle portion, of theplatens are firmly secured thehangers d, to which arepivotally connected the guide-bars F, slotted both' longitudinally and transverse ly. The upper and lower ends of these bars F are closed or provided with plugs to form limit-stops for levers, about to be described.

To the pendent extensions or bearing-boxes H, arranged on opposite sides of the formed mat-boxes, and at a suitable distance below I 1'1 1?, forming bearings for the levers to actuate the platens. The actuating-levers for elevating each platen consist of two sets. The starting or lifting set consists of the bar transverse pin 2 working in the transverse slot of the guide-bar F, the bar 3 with foot-treadle pivotally connected to the shaft 1 and working in the longitudinal slot of the guide-bar,

finish-stroke set consists of the links 5, pivotally connected to the hangers vd of the platen, with the bar 6, pivotally attached to the shaft 1 lever 7, pivotally mounted on the shaft 1 6 and lever 7, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

K indicates a movable top formed with the end ways to engage with the end guide-flanges, e, of the frame, and when adjusted over the open end of one of the mat-boxes it serves as a cover to retain the mat within the box while undergoing the pressure process.

To prevent the cover from shifting to either mat-box while it is changed, the centrallypivoted locking-bar L is adjusted to prevent the passage of the cover over the desired boX, to which full access is necessary in filling the leaves of the mat;

M represents a T-shaped support, having its central bar, N, attached to the end of the frame, forming an inclined support for the mats while the leaves are being filled with the meal.

Each mat is composed of layers of thin wood, arranged at right angles to each other, glued and pressed together with three or more leaves pivotally connected at one end so as to be opened like a book. The mats thus constructed and formed are each adapted to make a and the links 8, pivotally connecting the bar the platens thereof, are the transverse shafts 1, pivotally connected to the shaft I, with its and the connecting-links 4. The pressure or a plurality of cakes by a single operation of the machine.

The pivoted catches E are automatically adjusted to engage with the support-stops of the platens by means of the fiat springs f and the elevated engagement locked by the curved rack h, as shown.

Operation of machine: This is performed by three men: A, the pressman; B, the matfiller; O, helper. A places an empty mat in the mat box one back and leaves resting against the 1nat-rest M, the other back lying on the platen of the mat-box. 0 places the mat-cloth on mat and drops platen one notch. B from a scoop-measure drops meal in matboX on mat cloth. 0 folds mat-cloth and drops platen one notch; also lays down one leaf of mat on folded cloth, and lays on the leaf another mat-cloth, upon which B again drops a scoop of meal, and continues as be fore-named until the mat is filled or desired number of cakes are set in the mat. \Vhen this is accomplished, G then pulls the cover K over the filled mat, then A places his foot on the pressnre-lever at the same time 0 places his foot on the other lever, and the combined pressure forms the cakes compactly in said mat. The lovers are now released. A slides the cover back and 0 places his foot on lever, throwing the platen to the top of themat-box. A now takes this filled mat and-places it in the oil-press. This operation is continued until the oil-press is charged. By this organization and arrangement of two or more matboxes in the same horizontal plane, and a top common to both, and an independent actuating mechanism to each platen, the method of filling and forming the oil-cakes in independent mat-boxes alternatively is carried on with out any loss of time.

\Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a press of the class described, thecombination, with a mat-box having a movable platen, of the double set of levers attached to the under side of the platen, substantially as described.

2. In a press of the class described, the combination, with a platen working in a mat-box, of the connected set of levers and guide-bar, substantially as described.

8. In a press of the class described, the combination, with a vertically-movable platen, of a spring-cateh engaging with a stop-support on the platen for holding the same in an elevated position, substantially as described.

4. In a press of the class described, the combination,with two or more mat-boxes arranged in the same horizontal plane, of a movable top or cover adapted to be adjusted over either mat-box and serve as a cover for the same while the mat is being subjected to pressure, substantially as described.

5. In a press of the class described, the combination,with a platen for supporting the mat, of a support for holding the leaves of the mat in opened condition while the mat-leaves are being filled with seed-meal, substantially as described.

6. An oil-cake former consisting of the following organized instrumentalitics, to wit: two or more mat-boxes arranged in the same horizontal plane. a movable cover common to both, movable platens, means for actuating the platens, and means for locking the platen in the elevated positions, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. MOSS. NORRIS LITTELL.

\Vitnesses:

P. B. IIARBOUR, CHAS. \V. Mourns. 

